The medical fraternity, journalists, social workers, everybody is discussing achieving healthcare equity in society. Equality or equity is familiar; it dates back to the 17th century. Providing equal opportunities, sustainable concepts, etc., has always been the watchword of the liberal society.
Equal access to healthcare, medicines, and services is all about healthcare equity. We may also call it the other side of healthcare price transparency, where we feel all citizens, irrespective of their differences, must get equal access to healthcare.
The sad part is that most women lack adequate healthcare because of several reasons. This has led to the onset of several diseases, some of them at times go undiagnosed.
Now the question is -Are we doing enough to bring back healthcare equity in women? Read the blog and get to the depths of achieving healthcare equity for women.
Women’s health: Diving into history
A large section of women were not aware of the diseases and the health conditions. The condition of black women is even more scary. According to research, during the late 1870s and early 1960s, breast cancer was increasing among US women. The black women were mostly subjected to breast cancer owing to the lack of care.
Healthcare equity in women: the need of the hour
Women must get equal access to healthcare. Equal access extends to all women. Employed, unemployed, mothers, sisters, wives, friends, women from all races, countries, infertile, fertile, and all other categories. Segregation leads to negligence. The more we limit healthcare, the greater the burden of diseases on our shoulders.
Women’s Healthcare awareness should begin from the school. A study shows that women are seven times more likely than men to be misdiagnosed for a medical issue.
Personalized treatments can bring back healthcare equity in women. Understanding women’s health issues based on gender, geography, family history, etc., can help curb the situation. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine issues, sexual issues, heart issues, cholesterol, hypertension, psychological issues, etc., are different in women.
The symptoms vary in gender. Personalized healthcare for women will give health scientists a better understanding of the problems.
How can we achieve healthcare equity in women?
Achieving health equity for women is the need of the hour in 2024. Saving women from medical disparities improves the quality of life. It is a simple understanding that if women are healthy, they will-
- Contribute to creating a better society
- Promote equality and a just society
- Pro create healthy offspring.
- Make the future generations proud.
- Help in building the economy and culture of a society
- Make the world a better place to live in by promoting sustainability.
Together, men and women can make the world a better place. Health and dignity are essential for every human being. We can achieve women’s healthcare equity by following these-
- Making personalized care systems for women.
- Access to healthcare must be equal and easy.
- Educating women about health conditions, diseases, and prevention.
- Focusing individually on women’s health by setting up hospitals, centers, etc., specializing in women’s health.
- Accessible sources on common health issues affecting women, like gynecological disorders.
- Making healthcare costs transparent and economical. A large section of women have economic barriers in addressing care. Therefore, they opt to refrain from availing themselves of the care in fear of cost.
- Educating women about pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy care.
- Preventing diseases by regular medical checkups, early screenings, etc.
- Managing preventable diseases by following a proper diet and exercise.
- Understanding the type of diet women should consume at different stages. As in during pregnancy, after pregnancy, during the menopause stage, before conceiving, at puberty, etc.
- Advertising more about women’s health issues and ways of preventing them.
- If the cost of gynecological screening, tests, medicines, etc., is economical, all women can access it. Providers improve the nation’s overall healthcare by lowering costs or charging economically. There must be concessions on the cost of the healthcare services, especially the ones that deal with severe issues like cancer.
It is through healthcare equity that one can make the world healthy. The well-being of a nation depends upon the collaborative well-being of men and women. Healthcare must be an all-inclusive affair of the world. Segregating and neglecting a social category in healthcare disturbs the world. Women from all levels of society must come forward and be aware of their health.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/7facts-womens-health/index_1.html